So, you’ve skipped on the Euro summer adventuring for the year, but are still aching to bring a slice of the Mediterranean to your dinner parties—us too.
Whether it’s whipped feta with a heavy serving of olives or fruity spritzes on the balcony with small plates aplenty, we’ve scoured our pantries, consulted our nonnas and partnered with Sandhurst to bring a touch of the Euro summer to your dinner parties this year. Read on for our Med-inspired tips.
Keep The Small Plates Coming
Small plates are everywhere at the moment, from wine bars to full-blown fine diners. Our preferred way to incorporate a bit of Euro summer feasting into our at-home dinner parties is drawing out the best part of the experience—the antipasto boards. Ditch the heavy three-course dining for small plates stuffed with quality produce for your friends and family to tuck into. Our current dishes on rotation?
Nail TikTok’s favourite Mediterranean side dish this year with a heavy serving of whipped feta topped with olives. Keep the antipasto board stocked with all the best from Sandhurst. The Sydney family owned and operated business are the masters of all things antipasto, with loads of goodies straight out of Nonna Geraldine's kitchen.
To top it off, you cannot enjoy Euro summer feasting without a serving of burrata with tomatoes and basil, paired with a fruity spritz or martini on the balcony—that is la dolce vita.
Use Top-Notch Ingredients
If there's one thing that endless hours of scrolling Maria Koutsogiannis's blue zone TikTok recipes has taught us, it's that nailing your Euro summer share plates is all about focussing on good-quality, simple ingredients.
From a briny garnish for your drinks to roasted and stuffed pickled goodies for your small plates, quality ingredients just taste better. If a trip to the local markets is not on the cards for the week, Sandhurst has shelves lined with awesome preserved foods that are a surefire way to elevate any humble homecook's dishes.
Family-owned and operated, Sandhurst uses traditional recipes and preserving techniques in their Australian, Italian, Mexican, Greek, Lebanese and South American foods. When these guys aren't able to use their own high-quality local produce, they cite their strong network of family-owned farms in Europe, Turkey, South America and Asia—so you know you’re getting the best goods every time.
Pick A Palette And Tablescape To The Nines
Our favourite way to bring the Euro summer vibes to your dinner parties year-round? Gingham, of course. A tablecloth is an easy way to protect the table from any spills while adding a pop of colour to your set-up. If you can’t raid Nonna’s linen cupboard for table runners or cloths to adorn your small plates and antipasto, we’ll be adding these colourful linen tablecloths to our cart this payday.
Light up your tablescape with a bunch of candle sticks or tea lights. For a classic Italiano vibe, use leftover wine bottles as holders for candles to burn in. Speaking of leftovers, keep those extra lemons and garnishes from platters handy too—they look great as part of a Med-inspired tablescape.
Sort Out Whether You’re Serving Shaken Or Stirred
When we close our eyes and picture the turquoise waters of the Amalfi or the bustling side streets of Vienna, we always have a martini in hand. Whether you prefer it extra filthy or served as an espresso martini, the versatile drink is a surefire way to level up your Euro dinner party. Our tip to pour the perfect martini? Always opt for quality ingredients—from the stack of olives to your choice of Vermouth. Hot tip: if your crowd is looking for a smoother sip, add a dash more Vermouth.
Bring Euro summer to your home year-round with Sandhurst. Find your next infusion of Mediterranean dining at Coles, Woolworths, IGA and Harris Farm and most independents.
If you are Sydney based, around the Shire, drop in to Sandhurst On The Go, their factory outlet for discounted prices at 6 Kiama Street, Miranda.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Sandhurst and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image credit: Dupe and Urban List.